Learning More About Catholic Social Teachings:
Principle/Theme:
Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
From USCCB complete statement & document available at –
http://www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship/FCStatement.pdf
The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. Employers contribute to the common good through the services or products they provide and by creating jobs that uphold the dignity and rights of workers—to productive work, to decent and just wages, to adequate benefits and security in their old age, to the choice of whether to organize and join unions, to the opportunity for legal status for immigrant workers, to private property, and to economic initiative. Workers also have responsibilities—to provide a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay, to treat employers and co-workers with respect, and to carry out their work in ways that contribute to the common good. Workers, employers, and unions should not only advance their own interests, but also work together to advance economic justice and the well-being of all.
- Scriptural Foundations
- Quotes from Official Church Documents
- References from the Catechism
- Practicing Faithful Citizenship
- Prayer for Work
Scriptural Foundations
Human dignity finds special expression in the dignity of work and in the rights of workers. Through work we participate in creation. Workers have rights to just wages, rest and fair working conditions.
Genesis 2:2-3, (God labors ands rests)
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/genesis/genesis2.htm
Genesis 2:15 (humans cultivate earth)
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/genesis/genesis2.htm
Sabbath gave laborers rest
Exodus 20:9-11
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/exodus/exodus20.htm
Exodus 23:12
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/exodus/exodus23.htm
Exodus 34:21
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/exodus/exodus34.htm
Leviticus 23:3
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/leviticus/leviticus23.htm
Deuteronomy 5:12-15
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/deuteronomy/deuteronomy5.htm
Wage justice
Leviticus 19:13
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/leviticus/leviticus13.htm
Deuteronomy 24:14-15
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/deuteronomy/deuteronomy24.htm
Sirach 34:22
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/sirach/sirach34.htm
Jeremiah 22:13
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/jeremiah/jeremiah13.htm
James 5:4
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/james/james5.htm
Isaiah 58:3 (do not drive laborers)
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/isaiah/isaiah58.htm
Matthew 20:1-16 (Jesus uses wage law in parable)
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew20.htm
Mark 6:3 (Jesus worked as a carpenter)
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/mark/mark6.htm
Mark 2:27 (Sabbath is for the benefit of the people)
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/mark/mark2.htm
Laborer deserves pay
Matthew 10:9-10
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew10.htm
Luke 10:7
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/luke/luke10.htm
1 Timothy 5:17-18
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/1timothy/1timothy5.htm
Quotes from Official Church Documents
“We must first of all recall a principle that has always been taught
by the Church; the principle of the priority of labor over capital. This
principle directly concerns the process of production: In this process
labor is always a primary efficient cause, while capital, the whole collection
of means of production, remains a mere instrument of instrumental cause.”
-Pope John Paul II, On Human work (Laborem Exercens), no.12
All people have the right to economic initiative, to productive work,
to just wages and benefits, to decent working conditions, as well as to
organize and join unions or other associations.”
-National Conference of Catholic Bishops, A Catholic Framework for
Economic Life, no.5
From: Leader’s Guide to Sharing Catholic Social Teaching, USCCB. 2001.
For further reading:
http://old.austindiocese.org/ccctx/catheconframe.htm (Catholic
Framework for Economic Life)
http://salt.claretianpubs.org/cstline/tline.html (condensed)
References from the Catechism
2428 -
In work, the person exercises and fulfills in part the potential inscribed
in his nature. The primordial value of labor stems from man himself,
its author and its beneficiary. Work is for man, not man for work.214
Everyone should be able to draw from work the means of providing for his life
and that of his family, and of serving the human community.
2433 - Access to employment and to professions must be open to all without unjust discrimination: men and women, healthy and disabled, natives and immigrants. 219 For its part society should, according to circumstances, help citizens find work and employment.220
Practicing Faithful Citizenship
Catholic Framework for Economic Life - Work
http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/ACatholicFrameworkforEconomicLife.pdf
Act locally – Austin Area
http://www.religionandlabornetwork.org/
http://www.capitalidea.org/
Farm Bill
http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/rwg_pressrelease.pdf
Minimum Wage
http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/minwage605.htm
What Would You Do? An Activity for Youth Groups*
http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/whatwouldyoudo.shtml
Live Action
http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Sep2003/Family.asp
Prayer for Work*
Creator God,
thank you for providing us
with the gift to share our talents.
Provide our community, our nation,
our worl
the fortitude to provide work for all
which is decent and fair.
Make us faithful stewards
of your creation
to enhance the human dignity
of our global family.
We ask this in the name of Jesus,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit
now and forever.
Amen.
*From Being Neighbor: The Catechism and Social Justice, USCCB, April, 1998